BUCS Regatta 2025 – Open Championship Single Preview

A New Chapter in Championship Sculling?

As the 2025 BUCS Regatta bursts into action on the waters of Nottingham, the open championship single sculls promises to be one of the weekend’s most compelling showdowns. With last year’s champion, Matt Long, returning to defend his title, the question looms: can he hold off a fiercely competitive field of Britain’s top university scullers, or will a new leader emerge?

This is more than just a race for medals; it’s a proving ground for the next generation of elite sculling talent.

From seasoned returners to rising stars, the lineup is stacked with power, pedigree, and potential. With internationals, GB trial standouts, and programme-defining athletes all converging at the start line, the stage is set for a sculling spectacle. The regatta will already be in full swing; this championship single offers a thrilling glimpse into the future of world rowing.

Fredrik Reite – Durham University

Durham’s hopes in the championship single rest on the shoulders of Fredrik Reite, a Norwegian U23 international. Reite represented Norway in the single at the 2023 U23 European Rowing Championships, finishing just off the podium in fourth place. Now in his first and only season at Durham, he has quickly established himself within the programme, impressing throughout the winter with a blend of technical finesse and Scandinavian toughness.

Since arriving in September, Reite has slotted into Durham’s top eight, and his entry in this event signals Durham’s intent to reassert themselves in championship sculling, a category they haven’t dominated in recent years. With his international experience and hunger for success on British waters, Reite could pose a serious threat to the more established domestic names if he finds his rhythm on Saturday

Daniel Dubitsky – Imperial College London

Adding yet more international quality to the field is Daniel Dubitsky, a member of the Israeli national team and a recent addition to the Imperial College London program. Formerly an undergraduate at Newcastle University, Dubitsky brings a wealth of experience and maturity to the table. With several seasons of high-performance rowing under his belt, including numerous international appearances, he arrives at BUCS with technical pedigree and tactical nous.

While he hasn’t featured in the GB trial system due to his national allegiance, his racing for Israel will give him a quiet confidence heading into his first 2k race of the 2024/25 season. Known for his consistent pacing and powerful finishes, Dubitsky may not draw as much attention as the British trialists, but he’s a serious contender for the A-final and potentially more.

Matt Long – Reading University

Few athletes arrive at this regatta with the same weight of expectation as Matt Long. A product of Reading’s high-performance sculling program, Long has risen rapidly through the ranks since bursting onto the university scene two years ago. After dominating last year’s A-final, he returns with a clear mission: to defend his crown as the undisputed king of British university sculling.

Long is no stranger to the big stage. He raced in the quad at the 2022 U19 World Rowing Championships and has since been central to Reading’s medal-winning crews, including a commanding performance at BUCS Head earlier this year. Technically sharp and made for side-by-side racing, Long combines raw speed with a calm, race-savvy approach.

Filip Pfeifer – Oxford Brookes University

Though Oxford Brookes is more often associated with sweeping up medals in the big boats, their lone entry in the championship single shows they’ve come to make a statement. Pfeifer, a postgraduate student, spent last season racing internationally for Slovenia. His eighth-place finish in the single at the 2024 World Rowing Cup III in Poznan was a standout result in one of the toughest senior international fields.

Pfeifer’s decision to enter the student scene this season adds an exciting wrinkle to the event. With the composure and race craft from international racing against Olympic-level opposition, he brings a new dimension to Brookes’ legacy. His international pedigree, postgraduate maturity, and Brookes’ trademark physicality make him a serious podium threat.

Konan Pazzaia – Queen’s University Belfast

Pazzaia’s presence at BUCS Regatta 2025 only adds to what might be the most internationally accomplished field of championship scullers this event has ever seen. Representing Ireland, Pazzaia raced in the men’s quadruple scull at Belgrade’s 2023 World Rowing Championships, taking on the world’s best in the senior category. His ability in the small boat was already proven the year prior, when he earned a bronze medal in the men’s double at the 2022 U23 World Rowing Championships, a result that firmly established him as a rising force in Irish rowing.

Now based at Queen’s University Belfast, Pazzaia brings immense prestige to a programme on the rise. Traditionally strong in lightweight and crew boats, Queen’s now has a legitimate shot at individual honours. With his smooth sculling style, strong cruising speed, and vast international experience, Pazzaia isn’t just another name on the start list – he’s a genuine contender for BUCS gold. He could walk away with a championship title if he finds top gear in Nottingham.

Prediction

The championship open single sculls is shaping up to be one of the weekend’s most exciting and competitive events. With a blend of seasoned internationals and home-grown talent, this year’s race is wide open. Each athlete brings unique strengths and experiences, some at the Olympic level, others decorated on the U23 or senior world stage. The rivalry between top university programmes will be intense, but it’s the individual grit, skill, and ambition of these athletes that will ultimately define the outcome.

This might be the most accomplished field of championship scullers ever assembled at a BUCS event, and that’s no exaggeration. It feels almost unfair to make a prediction because this final could be one of the greatest we’ve ever seen. If you’re attending BUCS this weekend, stop what you’re doing and watch this race. It’s going to be an absolute showdown.

Prediction:
🥇 Long
🥈 Pfeifer
🥉 Reite

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